Identification holder



y 16, 1967 A. A. souzA 3,319,368

IDENTIFICATION HOLDER F iled March 29, 1965 lb-'- FU'g... .Z

I N VENTOR. AUGUST/NE A. SOUZA PATENT AGENT United States Patent 3,319,368 IDENTIFICATION HOLDER Augustine A. Souza, 431 Casa Blanca Drive, San Jose, Calif. 95129 Filed Mar. 29, 1965, Ser. No. 443,255 4 Claims. (Cl. 40-10) The present invention relates to a holder for identification material such as photographs, business licenses or the like.

As an example of appropriate utilization of devices in accordance with the present invention, recent requirements in several States make it necessary that the official license of a barber together with his photograph be displayed in a prominent place immediately adjacent the barbers chair. The device, as hereinafter described, is specifically directed toward this use, but analogous utilization will be apparent.

Generally, it is an object of the present invention to provide an identification holder which can be supported after the fashion of a picture frame on the wall adjacent a barbers chair and is capable of removably holding photographs or other identification media.

More specifically, it is a feature of the invention to provide an identification holder in the form of a simple, open, rectangular frame with an associated window and backing plate arranged to provide a thin receptacle for the removable retention of photographs or the like therewith-in.

An additional feature is the formation of the unit to provide for ease of entry and withdrawal of the identification material.

Furthermore, it is a feature of the invention to provide for an associated name-plate enabling the removable accommodation of individual letters formed from plastic or other materials.

It is a particularly significant feature to provide an identification holder which is capable of performing the mentioned functions yet is inexpensive to construct and assemble.

These as well as other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent from a perusal of the following description of the exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an identification holder embodying the invention,

FIG. 2 is a rear view thereof,

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

As shown in the drawing, the identification holder includes an open generally rectangular frame preferably composed of plastic material so that simple fabrication thereof by known injection molding techniques is enabled. Three sides, 12, 14, 16 of the frame are composed of a relatively thin strip of material of substantially triangular cross-section as best shown in FIG. 3 with a peripheral flange 20 depending from the exterior of the frame sides to encompass other elements of the unit as will become apparent hereinafter.

The fourth side 22 of the frame 10 is formed somewhat differently, the mentioned flange 20 being eliminated and at least a portion 24 of the fourth side 22 of the frame 10 being enlarged as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. Centrally, within this enlarged portion 24 of the frame 10, a depressed plate 26 is provided, such plate 26 having an elongated rectangular configuration being secured at its opposite extremities to the adjacent raised portion 24 of the frame 10 and having a plurality of ribs 30 joining the depressed plate 26 to the surrounding frame portion "ice 24 at spaced intervals along its longitudinal dimension. Accordingly, between such ribs 30, vertically-opposed slots 32 are formed between the depressed plate 26 and the surrounding frame portion 24. These opposed slots 32 are arranged to receive suitable tabs 34 projecting both upwardly and downwardly from the top and bottom of letters 36 formed from flexible plastic material so that they may be inserted as best shown in FIG. 1 and subsequently removed. Thus, the described depressed plate 26 functions as a name-plate with the letters 36 being inserted in accordance with the name of the barber.

Immediately behind the frame 10, and encompassed on three sides by the described dependent flange 20, is a rectangular, transparent window 38. Such window 38 is engaged rearwardly along three sides of its perimeter by a spacer 40 which is in turn engaged on its rear face by an opaque, generally rectangular backing plate 42. All three elements 38, 40, 42 are simultaneously secured to the three sides 12, 14, 16 of the frame 10 by staples 44, as shown, or can alternatively be glued in the assembled relationship. Because of the perimetral spacer 40, a thin receptacle 46 is formed between the transparent window 38 and the backing plate 42, as can best be visualized by reference to FIG. 3.

Within this receptacle 46, the identification elements can be removably received. For example, a photograph can be inserted in the receptacle adjacent the right hand portion thereof as shown in FIG. 1, and in turn, a barbers license can be inserted in the left hand portion of the unit behind the transparent window 38. Thus, both the license and photograph are on adjacent display.

In order to facilitate removal or insertion of the photograph or license, the backing plate 42 is notched as clearly shown at 42a and 42b in FIG. 2 to a level below the interior dimensions of the encompassing frame 10, enabling immediate manual access to the upper portions of the photograph or the license. Preferably, an additional slot 42c is formed in the backing plate 42 substantially centrally thereof to enable suspension of the unit from a wall hook or similar structure. r

Obviously, various detail modifications and/or alterations can be made in the structure as described without departing from the spirit of the invention and the foregoing description of one embodiment is accordingly to be considered only as exemplary and not in a limiting sense. The actual scope of the invention is to be indicated only by reference to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An identification holder which comprises a generally rectangular frame having flanges depending from three sides thereof,

said frame being inwardly enlarged on part of its fourth side to form a depressed name-plate with an encompassing slot,

a transparent rectangular window adjacent the rear of said frame behind said name plate and encompassed by said dependent flanges,

a perimetral spacer adjacent said flanges at the rear of said window, and

a backing plate behind said window and spaced therefrom by said perimetral spacer whereby identification photographs or the like can be inserted removably between said window and said backing plate.

2. An identification holder according to claim 1 which comprises means for commonly joining said window, said spacer and said backing plate to said frame.

3. An identification holder according to claim 1 wherein said backing plate is notched adjacent the fourth side of said frame inwardly beyond the interior dimension of said frame.

a 4 4. An identification holder which comprises References Cited by the Examiner an open frame having one inwardly enlarged portion UNITED STATES PATENTS depressed to form a name-plate with an encompassing slot 7134 3/1931 Dyer 40*10 a transparent Window secured to said frame be- 5 18O4013 5/1931 Jo nes 40*207 Said name P and Dlet Z 6t 8.1.

a backing plate secured to the rear of said Window 1913891 6/1933 Lsha 40-207 2,211,923 8/1940 Dlttmar 4O209 in slightly spaced relation thereto whereby identification photographs or the like can be removably inserted between said window and m EUGENE CAPOZIO P 1mm y Exammer said backing plate. W. J. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN IDENTIFICATION HOLDER WHICH COMPRISES A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR FRAME HAVING FLANGES DEPENDING FROM THREE SIDES THEREOF, SAID FRAME BEING INWARDLY ENLARGED ON PART OF ITS FOURTH SIDE TO FORM A DEPRESSED NAME-PLATE WITH AN ENCOMPASSING SLOT, A TRANSPARENT RECTANGULAR WINDOW ADJACENT THE REAR OF SAID FRAME BEHIND SAID NAME PLATE AND ENCOMPASSED BY SAID DEPENDENT FLANGES, A PERIMETRAL SPACER ADJACENT SAID FLANGES AT THE REAR OF SAID WINDOW, AND A BACKING PLATE BEHIND SAID WINDOW AND SPACED THEREFROM BY SAID PERIMETRAL SPACER WHEREBY IDENTIFICATION PHOTOGRAPHS OR THE LIKE CAN BE INSERTED REMOVABLY BETWEEN SAID WINDOW AND SAID BACKING PLATE. 